Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely Talks about His New Book, "The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty"

— November 12, 2013

In a recent visit to NYU Stern, Dan Ariely, author of The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty, spoke to students and faculty about his new book. Ariely shared findings from a number of studies on honesty and cheating. He offered several insights from his research including:

Most people lie in lab studies where lying earns them more money.

Paradoxically, people usually think of themselves as good and honest.

Not all human values are equal when they collide. For example, maintaining peace at home can be more important than being honest.

Parents teach their kids to lie, but in ways that are often disguised as being polite or adhering to social norms.

Creative people are more dishonest than non-creative individuals.

If you remind people about ethics (e.g., have them swear on a bible or sign an honor code), regardless of their ethical training or lack thereof, they are more likely to act honestly.